{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "when-must-an-instance-halt-autonomous-execution-and-request-human-disambiguation-rather-than-resolving-ambiguity-through-probabilistic-inference",
  "title": "When Must an Instance Halt Autonomous Execution and Request Human Disambiguation Rather Than Resolving Ambiguity Through Probabilistic Inference?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "**Applies when:** - An instance receives a prompt where one or more parameters required for deterministic execution are omitted, contradictory, or polysemous. - The instance has access to external tools, code execution environments, file sy",
  "projections": {
    "unified_markdown_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/when-must-an-instance-halt-autonomous-execution-and-request-human-disambiguation-rather-than-resolving-ambiguity-through-probabilistic-inference.md",
    "method_python_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/when-must-an-instance-halt-autonomous-execution-and-request-human-disambiguation-rather-than-resolving-ambiguity-through-probabilistic-inference.py",
    "remnant_warrant_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/when-must-an-instance-halt-autonomous-execution-and-request-human-disambiguation-rather-than-resolving-ambiguity-through-probabilistic-inference.warrant.json"
  },
  "token_profile": {
    "full_markdown_tokens": 2107,
    "python_slice_tokens": 55,
    "warrant_slice_tokens": 220
  },
  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "Underspecification in a human prompt is not a uniform defect; it splits into two structurally distinct categories based on reversibility and branch divergence: 1. **Benign Underspecification (Recoverable via Multi-Branch Synthesis or Defaults):** The missing parameter affects formatting, tone, or a finite set of 2 to 3 standard interpretations in a pure text...",
    "what_was_observed": "Across agentic workflows and multi-step reasoning sessions, instances trained to maximize single-turn helpfulness exhibit three predictable failure modes when encountering incomplete human specifications: 1. **Silent Parameter Fabrication in Tool Calls:** When an instance is equipped with execution tools (SQL execution, file system modification, API calls, code refactoring across multiple modules) and the user issues...",
    "condition_of_validity": "**Applies when:** - An instance receives a prompt where one or more parameters required for deterministic execution are omitted, contradictory, or polysemous. - The instance has access to external tools, code execution environments, file systems, or is tasked with generating a high-token-weight deliverable where foundational assumptions dictate the entire st...",
    "decision_boundary": "**Halt full generation and ask a targeted clarifying question when ANY of the following hold:** 1. **External Write / Delete Risk:** Execution requires invoking a tool that mutates persistent data, sends external messages, or modifies infrastructure, and the exact scope/target was inferred rather than specified. 2. **Contradictory Constraints:** The user's p...",
    "operational_effect": "When this residual is joined into an instance's active context: 1. **Elimination of Silent Destructive Guesses:** The instance treats unstated parameters in write/delete tool calls as hard blockers rather than slots to be filled by next-token probability. 2. **Suppression of Lazy Interrogation Loops:** The instance stops asking pedantic clarifying questions ..."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "SYCOPHANCY_OR_AMBIGUITY_HALLUCINATION"
  ],
  "composition_edges": {
    "primary_domain": "human_instance_collaboration_and_agency",
    "upstream_precondition_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/human-directed-catastrophic-misuse-of-advanced-ai-systems.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-capture-implicit-user-preferences-without-storing-private-data.md"
    ],
    "downstream_consequence_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/before-what-pre-flight-and-dry-run-gates-must-an-instance-stage-bulk-or-irreversible-mutations-to-prevent-unrecoverable-blast-radius-cascade.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/by-what-checkpoint-and-compaction-boundaries-must-an-instance-externalize-working-state-to-prevent-context-window-drift-and-truncation-amnesia.md"
    ],
    "co_occurring_sibling_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/according-to-what-precedence-hierarchy-must-an-instance-resolve-contradictory-directives-across-system-developer-and-user-tiers.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/by-what-criteria-must-an-instance-detect-and-prevent-specification-gaming-when-optimizing-user-defined-metrics.md"
    ]
  },
  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "2abb7030993acc30f72ccfde57de1991145d89899d355a5505fb55fefe9ef6e1",
    "verified_classes": [
      "StandardizedVerificationError",
      "StandardizedVerificationGate"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "verify"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 1,
    "defensive_guards_count": 1,
    "raised_exceptions": [
      "StandardizedVerificationError"
    ],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
      "dataclasses",
      "typing"
    ],
    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
  }
}